Unpaid leave approved for South Bend officer facing charges

July 31, 2006|Tribune staff report

SOUTH BEND Â? The Board of Public Safety on Monday approved unpaid administrative leave for a South Bend police officer facing criminal charges in Elkhart County.

Cpl. Tony Macik had been placed on unpaid leave last week, according to South Bend police. He faces a felony intimidation charge as well as misdemeanor charges of battery, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

The charges stem from a July 12 domestic dispute in Elkhart County, according to police. Indiana State Police say that Macik went to Duncan Systems, 29391 Old U.S. 33, looking for his wife, and was involved in an altercation with an employee.

Police received calls that morning that someone had been battered, and the victim received minor injuries and a bump to the head, police said. Macik was off-duty at the time.

After the boardÂ?s decision Monday, South Bend Police Chief Thomas Fautz said that, Â?The message we want to get out is that we insist on policing at the highest level of professionalism.Â?